Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva

Devanagari script

तपस्तप्तं त्रिधा पूर्वं वेदाध्ययनमुत्तमम् । अग्नयश्च हुताः पूर्वं तीर्थानि विविधानि च

Transliteration

tapastaptaṃ tridhā pūrvaṃ vedādhyayanamuttamam | agnayaśca hutāḥ pūrvaṃ tīrthāni vividhāni ca

Translation

往昔我曾以三种方式修苦行，又研习至上的吠陀。先前亦如法向圣火奉献供品，并巡礼了种种不同的圣地提尔塔（tīrtha）。

Word by Word

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; here as object with participle

• तप्तम्: performed/undertaken (austerity)
• तप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle agreeing with तपः

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• पूर्वम्: formerly, earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• वेद-अध्ययनम्: study of the Vedas
• वेद-अध्ययनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): वेदानाम् अध्ययनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of वेदाध्ययनम्

• अग्नयः: fires (sacred fires)
• अग्नयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• हुताः: were offered (with oblations)
• हुताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; past passive participle agreeing with अग्नयः (i.e., offerings made into fires / fires fed with oblations)

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• तीर्थानि: pilgrimage places, sacred fords
• तीर्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• विविधानि: various, diverse
• विविधानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of तीर्थानि

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Goddess Pārvatī (narrating her prior spiritual disciplines)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The verse relativizes tapas, Veda-study, homa, and tīrtha-yātrā as preparatory; without direct Śiva-prasāda they do not yield the highest end—an implicit teaching for pilgrims.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Vedas
• Agni
• Tirtha

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It presents the classical triad of Vedic merit—tapas (austerity), svādhyāya (Vedic study), and yajña/tīrtha (sacrifice and pilgrimage)—as preparatory purifications that refine the soul toward Shiva-realization.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse emphasizes foundational disciplines that purify intention; in Shaiva practice these culminate in focused Saguna Shiva worship—often through Linga-upāsanā—where devotion becomes steady and grace-bearing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests disciplined tapas with svādhyāya, supported by yajña (offerings into sacred fire) and tīrtha-yātrā; in Shaiva application, these are commonly paired with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as the inner practice.